I am a new Android user. Have been doing PCs since the 80s, so not illiterate until I get to Android. Don't have smart phones so have never used apps. Have spent hours on the Vizio Tablet forum (bought VTAB1008 about 3 weeks ago) and have gleaned a lot of info but still feel illiterate here.

I downloaded some files to my SD card that I want to be able to access, Excel files and Word.docs. I've been going through the owners manual (totally frustrating because it is pre-honeycomb) and didn't see anything about accessing data on the SD card. I called Vizio help and they said there was no way to access the files. Yet I see many apps that say they allow you to open and edit and save MS Office files. If I have one of those apps, will it know to find the files in the SD card like the music and photo apps do? I do not want to store this particular data in the clouds.

My next issue is about permissions required for apps. Maybe I'm skeptical, but when I read the lists of permissions on the apps, it seems that allowing someone you never heard of, access to so much of your information and giving them the ability to control your device is asking for trouble. There are cautions on the permissions page that tell you what a malicious person could accomplish and that really sounds scary! How do you protect yourself? Do the developers have trust certifications or ?????

All Apps have a long list of permissions that they need. As long as it is popular Apps (read Apps that has been download >100K times) I would not be really worried. If Windows gave you the same information the list would probably be even longer.

I am a new Android user. Have been doing PCs since the 80s, so not illiterate until I get to Android. Don't have smart phones so have never used apps. Have spent hours on the Vizio Tablet forum (bought VTAB1008 about 3 weeks ago) and have gleaned a lot of info but still feel illiterate here.

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Welcome. Glad you are finding useful info here

I downloaded some files to my SD card that I want to be able to access, Excel files and Word.docs. I've been going through the owners manual (totally frustrating because it is pre-honeycomb) and didn't see anything about accessing data on the SD card. I called Vizio help and they said there was no way to access the files. Yet I see many apps that say they allow you to open and edit and save MS Office files. If I have one of those apps, will it know to find the files in the SD card like the music and photo apps do? I do not want to store this particular data in the clouds.

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Most apps will be able to access documents music, pictures, videos etc. on the SD card. In Gingerbread the apps themselves or their data (e.g. level progress or high scores) couldn't be placed on the SD card. If you are now running Honeycomb you have the option to fully use the SD card for apps and data. Files will still be accessible on the SD card even if you choose to leave the apps and data in internal memory.

My next issue is about permissions required for apps. Maybe I'm skeptical, but when I read the lists of permissions on the apps, it seems that allowing someone you never heard of, access to so much of your information and giving them the ability to control your device is asking for trouble. There are cautions on the permissions page that tell you what a malicious person could accomplish and that really sounds scary! How do you protect yourself? Do the developers have trust certifications or ?????

Thanx in advance for your help.

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Unfortunately this is just the way the modern world works. More and more apps are tending towards getting all your data rather than only what they need access to. Google will pull malicious apps from the store periodically but not necessarily screen out data miners. You just need to make a choice if you feel that a flash light app needs access to your contacts for example. Fortunately there are usually many versions of the same apps and some might be more appropriate than others. You can also search for apps that help monitor your privacy or block other apps from certain actions. As Tanzanite said you can also check the reviews for a particular app and see if there are any red flags mentioned by the users.

So you can feel reasonably comfortable that if you stick to the main app stores you will have some protection though not necessarily privacy. It may still be a good idea to get an antivirus app just to be safe. All you can do other than that is to actually read the permissions the app is requesting and decide if it makes sense.

I'm in the same boat as you, new to Android (only have the Vtab for a few days tho' I've been using a BB smartphone and apps for a few years) but am an IT pro since the late... well, let just say since a few decades ago. I found that with a free file manager app like ES File Explorer, I can read and write files on an SD card as well as a shared LAN drive. Made things a lot simpler for me. You just have to get used to where things are. See this thread for a discussion of mount points under Gingerbread and Honycomb.

My next issue is about permissions required for apps. Maybe I'm skeptical, but when I read the lists of permissions on the apps, it seems that allowing someone you never heard of, access to so much of your information and giving them the ability to control your device is asking for trouble. There are cautions on the permissions page that tell you what a malicious person could accomplish and that really sounds scary! How do you protect yourself? Do the developers have trust certifications or ?????

Thanx in advance for your help.

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I use 2 apps to protect myself, but you need to eb rooted

1) Droid wall, it block external access for an app completely

2) LBE Privacy Guard - it allows you to revoke app permission on an app by app and permission by permission basic

For a $1 it is probably worth trying out though. Might be just enough for some people. Documents To Go is the other major alternative while Onlive is sort of a different thing altogether but will allow you to work with docs.

My main use is word processing and this seems to be the only wysiwyg editor available. I've used DTG for years, starting with the Palm and it does have the highest level of file compatibility on the market. I've actually had to use it to open and save a file so that I could then open it in OfficeSuite Pro. Still, OfficeSuite Pro is my go to word processor on my Transformer.

DCRocks, Thanks for all the infor. I made a list of all the suggestions and will be checking them all out. You mentioned I needed to root to use the Droid Wall and LBE Privacy Guard. I've already upgraded to HC and I thought I read somewhere that if I upgraded I wouldn't be able to root. I read about rooting before I upgraded and decided that I was not tech enough and probably didn't need to because I'm using the VTAB to be able to read Kindle books and to not have to take my laptop when only going on short trips. I read a couple of posts about how to root but I really never read why to root. Is there a thread?

Hi gannnie, no way to root the VTab with Honeycomb at the moment. Root has it's advantages such as being able to use certain apps that require root, but since it isn't possible (maybe someday) there is no need to worry about it.

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